To Your Health
September, 2024 (Vol. 18, Issue 09) |
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Diet and Diabetes
By Editorial Staff
Type 2 diabetes is no laughing matter, with millions already diagnosed and millions more expected to be in the coming years. That's the bad news; the good news is that simple lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your diet, can make a big difference in lowering your risk dramatically. Case in point: new research focused on the impact of red meat / processed meat consumption.
In a large study involving nearly 2 million participants, researchers found that people who ate red meat and/or processed meat often were significantly more likely to develop type 2 diabetes over a 10-year period: a 15% higher risk for processed meat consumption (approximately 50 grams per day) and a 10% higher risk for red meat consumption (approximately 100 grams daily). Fifty grams of processed meat is the equivalent of two slices of ham; 100 grams of unprocessed red meat is the equivalent of a small steak.
In the study, all participants were adults (ages 18 and older) and had not been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the start of the study, when dietary habits relative to red / processed meat consumption were established. The researchers' conclusion is the big takeaway: "These findings highlight the importance of reducing meat consumption for public health and should inform dietary guidelines."
Diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits have been shown to dramatically influence whether you develop type 2 diabetes – and also whether you're able to overcome it if you're diagnosed. Talk to your doctor for more information.
